Lipolite Laser Liposculpture is also known as laser-assisted liposuction. You may like the idea of what seems minor surgery compared to traditional tumescent liposuction with mechanical scraping. However, because Lipolite is still a surgery, be forewarned about several risks and complications. Lipolite requires careful surgery to get the desired result. It may be an outpatient procedure, but poor wound care will cause infections and require repair.
Poor Contouring
An overaggressive surgeon may remove so much underlying adipose and other tissue that the result is a misshapen face or mismatched arms.
Infection
The entry wounds for Lipolite may be tiny in comparison to those used in traditional liposuction, but they still require maximum care. The incisions will admit bacteria if you are not careful. Therefore, avoid the temptation to shower for at least 24 hours after the Lipolite procedure.
If you must change the bandages yourself, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water beforehand. Clean the Lipolite incisions gently with soap and water, and pat dry with a clean paper or cloth towel. Affix new absorbent dressings unless the incision has stopped draining.
You know an infection has set in when your temperature rises, the draining fluid smells offensive and the whole area treated with Lipolite looks like a giant boil. It is distinctly red, tender and even painful. See your surgeon for massive doses of second- or third-line antibiotics, either oral or injectable.
Tissue Damage
Your surgeon will warn you not to wash the wound with hydrogen peroxide or apply sticky adhesive strips. The problem is that hydrogen peroxide damages absorbable sutures. Like rubbing alcohol, peroxide dissolves the new tissue your body is creating to close the wound. The result is slower wound healing.
In inexpert hands, the sticky plastic of ready-made strips might be applied to the wound edges. When you need to change them later in the day, new skin tissue is torn away and your body has to start all over again.
Fluid Buildup
Because of their size, the multiple incisions might heal and close too soon before all the fluid from internal trauma has drained out. The fluid accumulates in a condition called seroma. When the wound no longer drains, but you still feel pain and the area has begun to bulge out from fluid buildup, you have no recourse but to make an appointment for surgery to drain the accumulation.
Damage to Surrounding Tissue
As with any surgical procedure that is essentially performed blind (no opening up and direct view of the area of excess fat), Lipolite can damage nerves and dissolve subcutaneous layers of the skin. You might lose sensation in the treated area. The postsurgical discoloration might not disappear completely, leaving you with uneven complexion.
Financial Risk: Insurance Coverage
Read and reread your health insurance policy and that of your employer carefully before signing the consent form for Lipolite surgery. Do not assume you are covered. You might find that the leading insurance companies and your company benefits manual itself deny payments for all cosmetic surgical procedures.